Take your first steps into the Sacred Valley, just like the Incas did
Ollantaytambo is a small and lovely town situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Vale Sagrado de Los Incas). A lot of people pass it every day on the way to Machu Picchu. Only some of them decide to stay for more than one day. However, for those who do, it really is a unique place with a lot of things to do and discover.
Ollantaytambo can be a great starting point for trekking, hiking, biking or horseback riding! You can also combine some of these activities in one tour, and therefore have even more fun.
One of my favourite places near Ollantaytambo is Inti Punku (Sun Gate). Below, you will find useful tips about horse riding and trekking from Ollantaytambo to Inti Punku.
Whether to trek, or horseback ride AND trek, from Ollantaytambo to Inti Punku?
If you are in a good physical condition and you like hiking, you could easily do a very nice, full day of trekking from Ollantaytambo to Inti Punku. The round trip takes around 8-9 hours, but can also be done in 7 hours if you walk at a high pace and do not take many breaks.
But if you are not a big fan of trekking, you can choose the combination of horse riding and trekking. In this scenario, you can do the first part of the journey to Inti Punku, on horseback. This will take around 4 hours. Once you reach the top, you can go back by foot, which will take another 4 hours.
You can also choose to finish horseback riding in the middle of the route to Inti Punku – and do a little bit more trekking. In this case, you will need another 2 hours to reach Inti Punku and then around 3 hours to come back to Ollantaytambo.
On the way to Inti Punku, you will have the opportunity to admire beautiful landscapes, with snowy peaks – like Veronica, and also the possibility to see some Inca ruins.
On the way back, 25 minutes outside Ollantaytambo, you can stop at what looks like a swimming pool! You can also take a bath here as the water is very clean, just a little cold. Even if you decide not to swim, it is worth taking a short break here.
VIDEO – Horse riding and trekking to Inti Punku in Ollantaytambo
If you like horses, there are also other great places where you can organize horseback riding. To get more information, check the article about: Where you can organize horseback riding adventures near Cusco.